Texas CBP apprehends more than 600 migrants traveling in several groups

Border Patrol agents at the Rio Grande Valley Sector encountered five large groups consisting of 648 undocumented migrants over the past five days, the agency said in a statement. 

Four of the groups, each one with more than 100 undocumented migrants, were intercepted in Starr County by Border Patrol agents from the Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station.

The groups made up a total of 500 migrants, which included families, unaccompanied minors, and single adults from Central and South America. 

Additionally, Border Patrol agents from McAllen Station encountered one large group of migrants in Hidalgo County. The 128 migrants in the group mainly consisted of family members and single adults from Guatemala and Honduras. 

All of the migrants intercepted this week have been subjected to removal proceedings accordingly.

“Our Border Patrol agents continue to be vigilant in their duties to secure the border day in and day out and treat everyone they encounter with dignity and respect, in stark contrast with the transnational criminal organizations who consistently place financial gain above human life,” stated RGV Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection describes a large group of migrants as more than 100 individuals who are encountered at the same time.

On many occasions, human smugglers choose to move large groups of migrants in desolate areas to strain logistics in the local area, the statement said. 

Since the beginning of the 2023 Fiscal Year, in October 2022, Border Patrol agents at the Grande Valley Sector have encountered 51 large groups of undocumented migrants. 

There had been a decline in large group interceptions in the Rio Grande Valley since the pandemic-era immigration policy Title 42 was lifted on May 11 and new immigration requirements were set in place, wrote the Border Report.